Arlington County, Arlington Rat Control Situation:
Hello. I don't know if this is something you still do, but I need some expert advise so thought I'd give it a try! We are renting a house in Alexandria VA west of DC. I think it was built in the 60's, a ranch style home, and has been renovated but has much of the original doors, framework, etc. The guest bathroom in particular is not sealed off properly. It was an add-on and not done correctly, so the slab is cracked and eroding, as well as rotten wood with holes in it sealed with foam of all things! We have a beautiful courtyard and put out a couple bird feeders, but recently took them down when we noticed the sounds of critters in the attic. We've looked up there and so far the insulation looks almost new and other than a few cobwebs it's pretty clean up there. But there are a few droppings! I want to catch this early and eradicate the problem as quickly and humanely as possible for our safety and for the safety of our landlords house. It looks like you suggest sealing first, then traps, then clean-up. What do you think about the birdseed? Is it to blame? Or the wide open house? Can the rats be coming in from below the slab? My husband, ( this is his email btw) has heard them under the tub in the guest bathroom:// Any other tips? And are you by chance nearby in Arlington VA? Probably not, but just thought I'd check! Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thank you for your time!
My response: The slab could be to blame. Perhaps there are multiple entries. I wouldn't know without seeing it, but I live in Orlando. Bird seed does attract rats, but really, the problem is that there are openings leading inside the house.
We have a roof rat problem. We've heard the little critter crawling around in our daughters upstairs bedroom (refinished attic /bedroom) for awhile now. My wife also saw the little guy in action on our neighbors bird feeder at about 3:30am this morning and then watched him head back up to our roof. That pretty much sealed the deal that we weren't dealing with squirrels... I can see a few potential issues. We don't have a way into the attic because of the way it was refinished. When previous owner did renovations, they didn't leave access point to portion of attic that is unfinished. There is also some flashing on roof that is pulled up and near where we hear the most noises. I was going to secure it, but don't want to trap anything in... Contact info is below. Give me a call on my cell, anytime, and I can go into more detail for you. Hopefully you can give me a rough estimate on the phone and then we can proceed from there. Definitely want to get this issue resolved. :)
Arlington Rat Control Tip of The Week
how Can I Modify My Property To Keep Rat Populations Down?
This modification initially should include house inspection to comprehend what sort of changes that the house essentially needs.
One basic strategy is to diminish the access of rats to foods and get a new place for their habitat. Automatic doors, for example, are a perfect passage that will close quickly once everyone has gone through. It won't leave any hole that can invite the rats to come. Rats are clever because they can detect the holes, even the tiniest ones in pipes. As a result, it is easy for them to get to the divider and use it as a safe house. It is recommended to move plants and wires far from your buildings because rats can use them to climb up inside your home.
Sewers are likewise the ideal entryway for these rats to get inside the house. This is why the rat-proofing plan has to come up when you want to build a home or renovate a house.
Traps can likewise be set since it is by a long shot, the best method to catch rats - as rats can run quickly and effectively escape, it might be difficult for humans to find them utilizing their uncovered hands. Typically, catching is perfect for businesses working with large spaces and holes that might not be distinguishable.
Another modification is to try putting away foods appropriately inside containers that are rat-proof. Garbage should be properly sealed and shut because it may attract rats. When you store garbage in a can, ensure that the cover is tight enough.
Keeping up regular maintenance of the building won't allow any breaks and holes to appear. Great fixes are essential because rats can effectively fit a coin size gap and eat the foods inside your home.
